US EditionSyrian president will not attend Arab summit in Baghdad after invitation triggers divisions
- Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa will be absent from the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad on May 17, with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani taking the lead of Syria's delegation instead.
- Iraq invited al-Sharaa despite strong objections from Iraqi politicians, mainly from Shi'ite factions aligned with Iran, due to his past as a former jihadist leader imprisoned after the 2003 US invasion.
- Al-Sharaa led the Islamist group that toppled Bashar al-Assad in December and has since gained support from Sunni Gulf states, while Iraq navigates pressures from pro-Iran militias and security concerns.
- At least 57 Shi'ite lawmakers petitioned to bar al-Sharaa, citing an old arrest warrant from his militant activities, but Iraqi authorities deny current arrest efforts and seek to maintain regional ties.
- Al-Sharaa's absence reflects Syria's fraught reintegration into Arab politics amid Iraqi domestic divisions, while the summit focuses on Gaza reconstruction and Palestinian issues under tight security measures.
22 Articles
22 Articles
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After his past was exposed, Ahmed Al-Sharaa withdraws from participating in the Arab Summit.
Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa announced his non-participation in the upcoming Arab summit in Baghdad, scheduled for next Saturday. This comes after widespread controversy over his invitation by the Iraqi government...
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